Conviction In Fort Riley Murder Case

A court martial panel at Fort Riley has convicted an Army Private on all charges and given him the maximum sentence in a murder case from last year.

John Hughes has been sentenced to be confined for life without eligibility for parole. In addition Hughes is to be dishonorably discharged, is to forfeit all pay and allowances, and is reduced to E-1 and reprimanded.

The court martial for Hughes began last week, with convictions of murder, resisting arrest, false official statements, larceny, and wrongful appropriation.

According to the court martial’s summation of facts, Private Hughes murdered Private Thomas Lavrey by stabbing him in the back of the neck with a knife in Lavrey’s barracks room on Fort Riley. Hughes reportedly stole the murder weapon, and then after the murder stole a HMMWV that was later recovered off-post. When approached by MP’s for the theft, he resisted apprehension.

Hughes will be confined in the U-S Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth.

In accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Hughes has an opportunity to request clemency from the commander who convened the court martial who is in this case the Commanding General of the First Infantry Division and Fort Riley.